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Monday, September 05, 2011

Mailbox Monday: August edition

Normally I do my monthly Mailbox Monday post on the last Monday of the month and I had every intention of doing that in August too. Instead my son was very motivated and wanted to finish putting the new desk I had bought together. So now the desk area has gone from this:

to this:

Note the strategically placed stool under the right wing which was designed to stop the printer hitting the floor in case the whole right hand side collapsed at any point. Please do not notice all the crap in the background which is all part of my current cleanup campaign.

For all that I wasn't all that enthused about doing this right then, I do think he did a great job as he basically did it all himself, especially for an almost 13 year old. I will have to get my brother in law to tighten everything up but other than that it is all good, especially as we have since worked out a way to get the computer tower in the cupboard and the door closed!

I am not sure I like the desk itself though. I was hoping to end up with more space, but it feels more crowded than the old one did and it is harder for me to watch TV and be on the computer at the same time. Maybe it will just take me a little while to get used to it.

Anyway, here are the books that came into my house during August:

Bought

Bitten and Stolen by Kelley Armstrong - bought both of these at the author signing I attended!

Thief of Lives by Lucy Sussex - this is the third of the Twelve Planets series that is being released by Twelfth Planet Press. Click on the link to read my reviews of the first two books in the series. I have already pre-ordered the next three books that are due out later this year.

Netgalley

I promise that I am doing my best to curb my addiction to Netgalley. So far I haven't requested any new galleys for the last week or so which is a step in the right direction. I think so at least!

Viper's Kiss by Shannon Curtis - Shannon was an author who participated on a couple of panels that I attended at ARRC11 and she seemed really nice, so I thought I would try her book.

Sex, Gossip and Rock & Roll by Nicola Marsh - another "she seemed really nice so I thought I would try her book" but this time it is because I sometimes chat to this author on Twitter.

The Game of Love by Jeanette Murray - after reading Jaci Burton's The Perfect Play I seem to have developed a taste for sports romances with hot covers!

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins - I have recently started reading Higgins. One book was really good, the other was not. I hope this one falls into the former category.

The Legacy by Katherine Webb - I am in the mood for something a bit different so this might fit the bill.

Everything Beautiful Began After by Simon Van Booy - I have heard nothing but good things about this author's books so my turn to find out what the fuss is about.

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philippe Sendker - I actually don't remember what prompted me to request this one. I think it just sounded really good!

The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson - with comparisons being made to The Thirteenth Tale, this seemed like a likely gothicky read that I would enjoy!

Muffled Drum by Erastes - this is m/m romance with an unusual setting that I have heard lots and lots of good things about!

The Time in Between by Maria Duenas - the setting and description sound like a book I would enjoy.

The Printmaker's Daughter by Katherine Govier - I was sent a pitch about this book and it sounded fascinated so I was really pleased to get it.

How to Eat a Cupcake: A Novel by Meg Donohue - this one has future Weekend Cooking post written all over it!

Jane Austen Made Me do it anthology edited by Laurel Ann Nattress - there are a few authors included in this anthology that I already read so I was happy to request it. We are also going to have an event over at Historical Tapestry nearer to the release date of this book.

For Review

Virtuoso and Lady Sophia's Christmas Wish by Grace Burrowes - I recently read and really enjoyed Grace Burrowes first book, The Heir so I eagerly accepted these two books! Now I just need to read the second book.

Foal's Bread by Gillian Mears - I am going to be participating in an Aussie blogger readalong of this book during October.

We had to fill in our national census forms on August 9, so I got home from work and opened the front door to look for the form and was surprised to see a box there. I opened it up and was very surprised to see that it was a box full of books that I didn't realise I had won! There are 50 (yes I said 50!) different Loveswept Romances in the box! I haven't actually catalogued them, or worked out where they are going to go yet, but I will!

Mailbox Monday is on tour and for September it is being hosted at Amused by Books. Head over there to share your links, or to see what everyone else has posted about this week.

Everything Beautiful Began After was the last book I finished and it was good. I did have to make myself stick with it through the first few chapters but by the time I turned the last page I realized that I was smiling. What can be better, right?

Well done to your son on his assembly and well done on your win!We seem to be getting similar books from Net Galley (it really is an addiction, I've started browsing in my lunch break), will be interested to read your thoughts on The Lantern and The Time In Between.

I love the new desk! It looks wonderful and I bet it will make blogging feel so much more satisfying! Your son did a great job with it! Also all the new books look wonderful and I get what you mean about the addiction to Netgalley. I also am addicted and am adding books by the minute!

Well, the new desk certainly LOOKS spiffy! The only book on your list I've read is Everything Beautiful Began After. While I enjoyed it, I still think short stories are where Van Booy shines (and I don't generally like short stories). So, if you end up not liking the novel, I hope you'll still give him a second chance!

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About Me

My adventures through time and place, all without leaving the pages of my book. Reading is what I do to relax and escape, and talking about reading is my favourite hobby. You might find me immersed in historical fiction or romance, young adult, a mystery or a fantasy, but you can be sure that whereever I am, I will have a book with me!

If you have read and reviewed a book that I have reviewed, then please, feel free to add your link in the comment for that post and I will add your link into the body of the post so that other readers will be able to see what you thought as well.